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10 Best Real Estate Markets to Invest In Now – Hardest Hit by the Recession

It’s well known that some cities weather tough economic times better than others (Hello, Detroit? Are you still standing?). A recent Standard and Poor survey revealed that housing prices nationwide have fallen to their lowest levels since the beginning of the great recession.

If you’re a homeowner, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you. Many American homeowners find themselves upside down on their mortgage loans, owing more than they could sell the home for in the current marketplace.

But if you don’t own a home, now might be a great time to buy real estate – especially if you live in one of the following cities, where the real estate markets have been hit the hardest.

1. Cape Coral – Fort Myers, Florida

The Cape Coral – Fort Myers area, on the Gulf Coast of Florida experienced the single largest decline in home values since the beginning of the recession. Home values in Cape Coral and Fort Myers have fallen 59.1% to a current median price of $87,300.

2. Saginaw – Saginaw Township North, Michigan

Located near Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Saginaw Township area of Michigan was the number two hardest hit area in the United States in terms of real estate values, with an estimated decline of 53.7% since 2008. A single family home in Saginaw Township currently costs an average of $30,300.

3. Akron, Ohio

Families and residents of Akron have seen their home values plunge 48% to approximately $50,100 for a single family home.

4. San Francisco, California

The prices in San Francisco were so high to start with, that for most of us, the cost of purchasing a home within the city of San Francisco will remain a dream. But if you have the cash on hand, you can snap up a 42% discount on real estate, which makes the average cost of a single family home in San Francisco ring in at around $402,000.

5. San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, California

Perhaps because the cost of housing in the golden state was so high to start with, home values in Southern California have suffered significantly during the economic downturn. Homeowners in the San Jose area have seen the value of their houses fall approximately 42% from 2008 highs. Before you get too excited about the prospects of buying a California dream-house, however, you better get saving; a house in the San Jose area still costs an average of $450,000.

6. Phoenix – Mesa – Scottsdale, Arizona

The speculative bubble that had driven home costs in the area to exorbitant new highs during the early 2000’s came crashing down a few years ago. Homes in the metropolitan areas of Arizona, especially Phoenix, fell in value by around 41% to an average of $129,000.

7. Sarasota – Bradenton – Venice, Florida

Located near the extremely popular Tampa/St. Petersburg region on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Sarasota area has been hit pretty hard with an average real estate value drop of 40%, and a resulting median home value of $155,200.

8. Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario, California

The Riverside area in California, like much of the California market has witnessed a huge drop in home values to the tune of 39%, which resulted in the median home value in the area falling to around $172,000.

9. Las Vegas, Nevada

Sin City got slammed during the recession. The glitz and glamour of the strip couldn’t protect the citizens of Vegas from witnessing the values of their property fall by around 37%. A home in the Las Vegas area in the wake of the recession will set you back around $155,300.

10. Miami, Florida

The real estate market in and around South Florida was hit pretty hard by the precipitous drop in nationwide real estate values, and with a 35% average drop in value in the Miami area, now might be just the time for sun worshippers to purchase a home in the sunshine state. A single family home in Miami will currently cost you around $206,000.

Final Word

Sure, real estate prices have come down, but the fact is, in most places they were too high to start with. If you’re in the market for a home, now’s the time to take advantage of the excellent discounts relative to a few years ago.

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Pat S is an active duty military officer. On his off time he enjoys working out, reading, writing and spending time with his dog. Pat became interested in personal finance after several costly mistakes early in his military career that could have been avoided by a basic understanding of personal finance.

http://www.prespro.com Jen

Hi Pat..

Wonderful post! thanks for listing he best places where to buy properties. Have you tried investing or buying properties from these places?

Joe

Nice job but the photo posted for Akron is actually Columbus, Ohio…

http://www.taxes-phd.com Vegas Accountant

Very well put together! However, Las Vegas especially still has a huge shadow inventory which will likely further depress prices. There will be many more foreclosures in the years to come because of underwater homeowners and high unemployment. If you buy today with a long term horizon, you should still do well.

http://BuckhornPM.com Tanner Ellis

Good article. I am jealous looking at some of the property values vs. what we pay for here in MD!

http://www.manhattancalumet.com/ Dennis The Menace

I have a web site where I give advise on penny stocks and stocks under five dollars. I have many years of experience with these type of stocks. If their is anyone that is interested in these type of stocks you can check ouy my web site by just clicking my name. As far as MR zuckermans views go I would totally disgree although I believe that prices may stagnant for quit some time we have not yet experienced a really really large drop in the prices of houses in most areas of the country’ when compared to the enormous increases that had taken place from early 2000’s to mid 2000’s’ although I believe it could be more that ten years before the housing markets returns to what would be considered normal. Also keep in mind that area like the southwest and florida are great places to now buy a summer home because of all the empty condos and houses. Also these areas will now be much more attractive places for americans and international investors to invest in or buy a summer home at a great price.

http://www.manhattancalumet.com/ Dennis The Menace

I have a web site where I give advise on penny stocks and stocks under five dollars. I have many years of experience with these type of stocks. If their is anyone that is interested in these type of stocks you can check ouy my web site by just clicking my name. As far as MR zuckermans views go I would totally disgree although I believe that prices may stagnant for quit some time we have not yet experienced a really really large drop in the prices of houses in most areas of the country’ when compared to the enormous increases that had taken place from early 2000’s to mid 2000’s’ although I believe it could be more that ten years before the housing markets returns to what would be considered normal. Also keep in mind that area like the southwest and florida are great places to now buy a summer home because of all the empty condos and houses. Also these areas will now be much more attractive places for americans and international investors to invest in or buy a summer home at a great price.

http://www.manhattancalumet.com/ Penny Stock Blog

If I bought houses I would buy them in the southwest excluding texas and california. In other words the rockey mountain region but states like utah arizona new mexico nevada in the southern rockies or just south of the rockies excellent area. This is also a popular area for tourism domestic and foreign and it will become even more so add to that the mass exodus of Citizens and Businesses from the golden state california and their you have it the ingredients for a massive housing boom. Even while the country is in reccession the population in these areas is still increasing. Buying a home now in one of these states could well become worth ten times the current price today in twenty years.

TTTSWEY

UNVERIFIED IN THE MARKET

Chalie00

Saginaw isn’t even remotely close to Grand Rapids. Saginaw is 100 miles northwest of Detroit; it’s 2 hours northeast from Grand Rapids.

Bulloney Article

$200k in Miami if you want bars on your windows.. Otherwise add $100k+

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